ALLER!

Scribbling in my organiser, made me realise how busy i was going to be, starting tomorrow...

Take a look at the "Future Dates" section somewhere down there--->

It's just the tip of the iceberg.

Eek.

Well, on a more present note, j1s' training the past week was pretty smooth flowing

They are beginning to show some potential (:

and i think they learn really fast! (regarding the knots, belaying, harness stuff and climbing calls)

The J1s in our group comprise Atiqah, Naomi, Breyon and Caden Lowe.

Tell me their names aren't unique. HAHA ;D

Us J2s include lala, Alistair, Zhengwei and myself.

We can't help but reveal our crazy selfs already...

Mock Competition yesterday was quite surprising for me

Firstly cos i didn't feel any nerves going into isolation and stepping up to the boulder walls

I guess it's experience that we've all been exposed to(:

Secondly, I managed to top the first wall route (after 2 attempts because i aimed poorly-overshot the bonus tile) and onsight the second wall just barely.

I remember telling myself that i had to give it my all. Especially while attempting to match hands on that eagle nonsense!

The roof proved to be hard for me - no surprise there. But it really makes me wanna train up my core and do more roof routes!

Lastly, i was glad to have entered the final round amidst competition from Loyang, Springfield, UWC and SJII.

The finals (Novice Men Qualifiers) were wayyy out of my league though, i only managed a bonus on the 2nd route. This is why we aren't Men right!?

Towards the end of the competition, people were getting hungry/tired/listless and all. I was upset about something my parents said/implied/did. And i just wanna thank those who were there to comfort me(:

Jac, Clement, Calvin, Val TYVM. Plus all the climbers who were there, your presence made me feel all that better(Y)

Yesterday i knew for sure.

That i wanted to climb - not because it was a CCA, nor because it kept me fit, nor for pure enjoyment.

Besides all that, I love doing it.

And hence I will keep on doing it.

aller ashley

*coughs* hi(:

Came down with a bug

Croaking and breathing through my mouth

=(

and just as i was celebrating my recovered back!?

well. health update complete, school's just school

i'm still about (or less than) a tutorial behind for each subject

thankful for tests because it's the one thing that keeps me studying, on my toes

MCTs in 4 weeks.

a new pact made with Nelly to meet each Sunday for notes-making and the like (:

besides the boring stuff, Gravical's in slightly more than a week!

i'm not expecting anything because i've just recovered (if you've been reading right). not to say that i won't push my boundaries, because i know i will. this will be my first NBL comp, it's also going to be a world of difference from Bouldermania, an Invitational comp. Gravical's Novice Qualifiers are going to employ the FLASH format, which probably does more harm than good to us. sure, it saves time, but what happened to the importance of reading a route? =( The flash format merely tests one's strength and memory? sigh.

before that, Andrew's 18th ;D

what to buy? and can i make it? *hopes training is cancelled in view of Gravical XD

and the weekend brings with it my Grade8 piano practical exam

eeesssh. how encouraging, my piano teacher told me to be prepared in case i fail. tyvm

okay, now to listen to the BUDGET

non-Rant

Okay, my previous post was a rant.

Hence the blog name right?

I admit it was overboard, and i apologise

But those feelings had to go somewhere, if not they'd probably show themselves in person

Anyhow, I'll dwell in the side of me that's excited

To welcome new blood into TJCCC

To impart skills of whatever we've learnt in this short year's time

To let that passion we have bubble in their veins

To groom them into climbers who love climbing

Wednesday - the excitement shall begin(:

climb-able state

I wake up this morning at 0600 hours.
why so early?
COS I WANTED IPOH DIMSUM BEFORE I LEAVE
and i wake up feeling prance-y and jump-y
because my back has stopped hurting!

i can't remember when it started feeling better.
i know on my first day (fo sure) that i had trouble going up the stairs to Jean's room
But amidst the CNY food, cookies, slow gin, karaoking, visiting, playing, cam-whoring and gambling - the nagging/bruising/sharp pain had gone to bother someone else and left me alone
I guess an Ipoh break was just what i needed(;

Earlier, i wanted to check out the Tambun climbing area too!
Just to take a lookie at the routes and maybe recce for a trip-to-be?
Because it's such a waste that i have relatives staying 2 minutes from there, and i have never once appreciated the cliffs flanking the surroundings of the house

It really is a sight to behold, and i'm so thankful for our Batu Caves trip which made me peel my oblivious eyes open, yes i am.

Alls well here - meeting up with the Aunties and their families

Aunt #1-Dai Yee, Aunty Mary came down from Yorkshire! bringing Uncle Keith along and Paula plus little Isabella who's turning into a pretty young lady

Aunt #2-Yee Yee, who's house we're staying in, looks better since the last time we were here. Uncle Tim put up a cherry blossom tree in their amazing house for that CNY feel(: it's nice!
oh, since we're on the topic, the house is about 3-4 years old? It has 6 bedrooms (master bedroom, Jean's room, Popo's room, Maid's room and 2 guest rooms), a LIBRARY, 2 living rooms (one up and one down), 2 dining rooms (one formal with the lazy susan and one for casual dining), a karaoke room aka Uncle Tim's den/work area, a fantastic high-tech kitchen, and SEVEN yes 7 toilets. one in each bedroom and then one for "public" access. hahahah. say WOW. when i start earning money, i'll buy myself a house in Ipoh. Land abundance ftw.

Aunt #3-Sam Yee, who's been shuttling up KL and Singapore cos her children (Ad Win - married doctor and new dad of baby CALEB~! and Mi Chelle - pharmacist and dancer, probably my closest cousin. Both live in Bukit Batok now so Sam Yee's usually in Singapore most of the time.)

Aunt #4-Sei Yee passed away while i was pretty young leaving behind Uncle Chin Lai and three sons - Jason, Siang and Yong. They live in Subang and it's been great catching up and talking about whether i look better with my glasses or not. HAHA(: HTHT (heart to heart talk) and camwhore buddies(:

Aunt #5-May Yee lives in ipoh and has an 8 year old daughter who's quite chor lor! hahhaa, but she's a lively handful

Aunt #6 is my mummy(:

If you're wondering where the uncles are, well there's only Uncle Thomas who's still around. and he likes to bring korkor and me from hor fun and prawns

i'm just really happy to be home away from home though i'm leaving this afternoon =(
school starts in less than 24. WHAT?!

Pinnacle@DUXTON

glimpses of my new place i took off the internet. Yes, i am lazy to upload them from the DSLR =( boo. SOON(:

of bald heads, sacrificial oaths and cruel PA systems

I miss my korkor=(

He left mommy,daddy and my lives (for a week) on the 5th of February.
While having his last civilian meal, we took a few commemorative photos.
Black and White (:

Bus-ed and Bus-ed and Ferry-ed to Tekong, where Bryan left us to rehearse for the ceremony later on. The three of us then toured the facilities @ BMTC for about 2 hours.
We saw their canteens, Standard Obstacle Course, school (littered with pull-up bars) and lecture halls.
We saw their bunks with two-level beds, complete with a table right in the centre for the future 16 recruits staying there and pretty decent ceiling fans.
Next, we sat at the block next to Bryan and the other 80 odd enlistees during the official ceremony.

They pledges to be loyal to Singapore (blah blah) and protect it with THEIR LIVES. I feel safe already(:

After the entire ceremony, the enlistees took their leave and stood in two rows, flanking both sides of the corridor that we'd have to pass. And as their respective parents/friends walked by, they were allowed to leave with them and enjoy a final lunch together.

I met Nee Meng (said goodbye!) and Mr Yow that day too. Lunch was pretty good! Chicken, mash, broccolis, bread and rice. Just to assure parents that food doesn't really suck at camp. (I know the enlistees beg to differ)...

As we ate and took photos again, the PA system suddenly roared to life. "ALL ENLISTEES REPORT TO PARADE SQUARE NOW. (repeat. reapeat. and again.)

Aww, I had the final glimpse of a bald Bryan marching into the distance =(

Pics will be up soon(:

WET&WILD

Today started out early

With a briefing and redundant tie-wearing, schoolsong-singing, flag-raising assembly

Soon it was time to get the game ready for

The new J1s, whom I am attempting to love amidst the problems that they've brought with them

X-ing the X-s, so it's called, meant

Rafia string was rolled out, chairs were stacked

Pails, cups and all things plastic were filled

To the brim with water

Megaphones were employed to give directions

To the restless, donned-in-black/blue/red OGMs

Safety precautions - NO CLIPS, WATCHES, SPECS, PINS, SHOES (i sounded like I ran a roller coaster)

And DUCK WALK, careful, the web! oh FAIL rolling.

CHEER.

and repeat(:

oh did i say SPLASH?

Towards the dead noon, the track

Could have fried an egg. Because it fried my feet.

Right before clearing up, a brat from MEOW high threw flour in my hair

BOO. flirt. right clem?

Showered with Raihan and Gwen, revealing a TAN,

While Sherwin and Alistair stood there wishing

They could be in there as well. Lunch it was, with queues (yes, i heart j1s)

Debrief to end, officially. "Singlets? Okayyyyy..." (okay!)

The Day ended UNofficially with a MASS O. ;)

what a disgrace. kisses!

no, my cat isn't hurt.